Ever since discovering it as a teenager, Cradle of Filth’s ‘Dusk And Her Embrace’ has been one of my favourite albums. A couple of months ago I was surprised to find out that this beautiful piece of Gothic horror/symphonic black metal is not in fact the original version. An earlier edition was recorded in 1995 but due to problems with both the line-up and the record label, the album never saw the light of day. Not until now that is… This year the newly re-animated Cacophonous Records decided to finally release a remastered version under the name of ‘Dusk…And Her Embrace – The Original Sin’.

Given how much I love ‘Dusk And Her Embrace’ (the “later” version, released in 1996) I was keen to see what this remastered, older edition sounds like and how it compares to the 1996 version. Well…Let’s start with stating some basic facts that make this version different from the previously released version: 1. the line-up for this album is the same as the one for ‘Principle of Evil Made Flesh’. It should be noted that the only band members who were present during both recordings were Dani Filth and Nicholas Barker; 2. the artwork, 3. the track-listing – this edition features more songs including two instrumentals and some demos and Nocturnal Supremacy (originally released on the ‘V Empire’ EP).

Now on to the actual music… As with all the Cradle of Filth albums, this one starts off with an atmospheric instrumental track which is this version is titled Macabre, This Banquet. It has got an eerie and atmospheric keyboard intro that is not too far removed from Humana Inspired to Nightmare (the opening track on the 1996 version). Nocturnal Supremacy comes as a bit of a surprise on here, possibly because I’m so used to the older, more abrasive black metal version of the song as featured on ‘V Empire’ EP.

Then we enter more familiar territory as the album progresses, revealing the original versions of the songs. As with any good quality gem, the unpolished version shows some potential but it can feel a little rough around the edges. This definitely the case here. One of my favourites, Funeral In Carpathia is a good example. It’s fairly similar to the later version of the song, but there’s a few subtle differences. The most prominent are Dani’s vocals; instead of the high pitched shrieks featured on the 1996 version, he adopts the more traditional black metal vocal style, more akin to the vocals on the band’s debut album. There’s also considerably less of the eloquent Gothic horror overtones than in the 1996 version. Yet some things remain the same; for example A Gothic Romance still has the same eerie horror story feel to it and the title track, even in this more primitive form it is still the undisputed highlight of the album

In summary, ‘Dusk…And Her Embrace – The Original Sin’ is definitely a collector’s item for the avid Cradle of Filth fan looking to expand his/her collection. The name is a big clue – “original sin” which on here implies raw, more aggressive and generally more black metal bearing more similarities to ‘Principle of Evil…’ and ‘V Empire’ than the previously released version.

Metal music has been close to my heart since I discovered the genre as a teenager. This year many of the bands that I grew up listening to have released some new material. Although this section of my highlights is entitled “metal”, my top 10 list also features two rock albums which didn’t fit the industrial category. So here are my favourite albums of 2015:

1. Lindemann – Skills in Pills
Genre: Industrial Metal

Prior to writing the first part I wasn’t sure whether I should stick this in the industrial or the metal section. In the end I went with metal because I’ve always regarded both Rammstein and Pain as metal, so naturally a collaboration between Mr. Lindemann and Mr. Tägtgren belongs in that category too. I can’t think of any better way of describing this album than how I summarized it in my review: “It takes you on a journey during which you will experience a whole range of emotions including fear, laughter and disgust.” Best tracks: ‘Fish On’, ‘Praise Abort’ and ‘Yukon’.

2. My Dying Bride – Feel the Misery
Genre: Gothic Doom Metal

The second entry on my list couldn’t be much more different than the first. Whereas ‘Skills in Pills’ was fun to listen to, making me dance and laugh along to the outrageous lyrics, ‘Feel the Misery’ is true its namesake. There’s nothing uplifting about this album, just eight beautifully crafted songs of doom and gloom. In short, it’s a classic case of My Dying Bride doing what they do best. Best tracks: ‘And My Father Left Forever’, ‘Feel the Misery’ and ‘I Celebrate Your Skin’.

At the time when I reviewed this album, I gave it a very conservative rating of 3.5/5. Since then I have listened to it on numerous occasions and I’ve grown to appreciate it. If I were to do the same review today I would probably rate it much higher. ‘Hammer of the Witches’ is easily Cradle of Filth’s best album in years. The best tracks are ‘Blackest Magick in Practice’, ‘Enshrined in Crematoria’ and ‘The Right Wing of the Garden Triptych’.

4. Apocalyptica – Shadowmaker
Genre: Symphonic Heavy Metal

This was a tough album to review mostly because it’s so distinctively different to anything that Apocalyptica has ever done before. As with the new Cradle of Filth, it took me a few listens to fully appreciate it. The cello sounds were an instant hit but Franky Perez’s vocals are not the easiest thing to get used to. Luckily I discovered that once you do become accustomed to it, you will be rewarded for your patience. Best tracks: ‘Shadowmaker’, ‘Cold Blood’ and ‘Riot Lights’.

5. Lacrimosa – Hoffnung
Genre: Gothic Rock/Gothic Metal

Lacrimosa is one of my favourite bands. Their music isn’t the easiest to classify. I and many other people I know have always regarded them as Gothic rock, but if you ask anyone from the Goth scene they are viewed as Gothic metal. ‘Unlike its predecessor ‘Revolution’, which had a lot of metal influences, Hoffnung’ marks a return to the symphonic and orchestral style of Lacrimosa whilst still retaining the Gothic elements. Best tracks: ‘Unterwelt’, ‘Die Unbekannte Farbe’ and ‘Thunder and Lightning’.

6. Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor
Genre: Alternative Rock

Whilst Lacrimosa’s classification as “metal” may be subject to debate, this one is definitely not metal. However since Marilyn Manson’s latest album has nothing in common with industrial music I decided that it was better suited for the “metal edition”. ‘The Pale Emperor’ isn’t a masterpiece like ‘Antichrist Superstar’, but it’s the best album I’ve heard by him since ‘Eat Me Drink Me’. Best tracks: ‘The Third Day of a Seven Day Binge’, ‘Deep Six’ and ‘Cupid Carries a Gun’.

7. Children of Bodom – I Worship Chaos
Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Power Metal

I Worship Chaos’ is another solid effort from the world-famous Finnish extreme metal band. I must admit that I was apprehensive when I heard some of the previews on Youtube. Luckily after getting my hands on a physical copy and listening to it in full, I’m happy to report that it’s better and more memorable than their previous work ‘Halo of Blood’. Best tracks: ‘Morrigan’, ‘Horns’ and ‘I Worship Chaos’.

8. Melechesh – Enki
Genre: Black Metal

I only discovered Melechesh recently after reading one of the reviews on this album. I like their unique style and the mixture of middle eastern folk music elements with black metal. It’s also a great way to learn about Sumerian mythology. Best tracks: ‘Tempest Temper Enlil Enraged’, ‘Lost Tribes (feat. Max Cavalera) and ‘Metatron and Man’.

9. Nile – What Should Not Be Unearthed
Genre: Technical Death Metal

For those who don’t know death metal is one of my favourite metal sub-genres. Nile is one of the bands that I grew up listening to. I briefly lost track of them after the mediocre ‘Ithyphallic’ album but after reading a review of this album I decided to give them another go. I’m glad that I did. It’s great to see that these guys haven’t mellowed down or changed their style drastically. Best tracks: ‘Evil to Cast Out Evil’ and ‘In the Name of Amun’.

10. Ranger – Where Evil Dwells
Genre: Speed Metal

I don’t know much about speed metal. The chances are had it not been for Ranger’s highly entertaining performance at Radio City South Park festival, I wouldn’t have paid any attention to this album. Their debut ‘Where Evil Dwells’ treats you to seven tracks of ultra fast and energetic speed metal. A must for fans of the likes of Exciter and Witchburner.

Cradle of Filth are one of the bands that I grew up listening to. I’ve seen them live three times before, in three different countries (the U.K., France and Finland). The last time I saw them was in Tampere back in 2013. This time they announced that they will only be playing one show in Finland – Helsinki.

The venue was a club called Nosturi (“the crane”) located near the shipyard, just outside of the city centre. I haven’t been there in years… Yesterday was the first day of winter which meant that I stood in the snow and rain waiting to get in. The place was packed by the time I entered the building.

First up was a Finnish band called Frosttide who won the competition to open up for the main band on the Finnish leg of the tour. Their style is a essentially a mixture of melodic death metal and folk metal. I enjoyed the show but I couldn’t help thinking about just how much they reminded me of Ensiferum. 3.5/5

The next act was the Australian metal band Ne Obliviscaris. These guys have a really unique style which is difficult to classify. They have two singers, one doing clean vocals whilst the other does the harsh, melodeath-style growling. The music itself features elements of death metal, prog-metal and folk. Think Opeth with a violin player and you will have a pretty good idea of the kind of style I’m referring to. Whilst I liked some parts of their songs, the mish-mash of styles was a bit too confusing for my liking. 3/5

The good thing about seeing Cradle of Filth live more than once is that no two of set-lists are ever the same. So whilst it’s guaranteed that you will hear some stuff from their latest album, you never know what else they decide to play… The new tracks played included : ‘The Right Wing of The Garden Triptych’, ‘Blackest Magick in Practice’ and many more. In addition to this there were some classics such as ‘Her Ghost in the Fog’, ‘Lord Abortion’, ‘Malice Through the Looking Glass’, ‘Nymphetamine’ and ‘Thirteen Autumns and a Widow’. I was also really happy to hear some of the old songs from the band’s early days such as ‘Queen of Winter, Throned’ and ‘The Forest Whispers My Name’. 5/5

Overall it was a really good night. It was well worth the trip. Whilst I still prefer to attend local gigs, I’m willing to travel further so for bands like this.

Cradle Filth doesn’t need much of an introduction. Whether you love them or hate them, you cannot deny that they have left their mark on the metal scene. With a long career spanning over two decades, they have given us numerous Gothic horror videos, poetic lyrics, both shocking and beautiful imagery and a variety of music styles. Their music has evolved a lot over the years: from the death metal demos to black and symphonic black metal to the latest incarnation – extreme Gothic metal (according to The Metal Archives). I’ve been into their music since the late 90s and I have observed the various transformations, not just in music style but also in the line-up. Currently Dani Filth is the only original member left. All this means that Cradle of Filth in 2015 is a very different beast compared to band I grew to love after hearing ‘Dusk And Her Embrace’ and ‘Cruelty And The Beast’. Their latest opus ‘Hammer of The Witches’ is the follow up to ‘The Manticore’ and Other Horrors’ and it’s a concept album about witchcraft and the treatment of witches over the ages. The title is a reference to the medieval document about the persecution of witches called ‘Malleus Maleficarum’.

We’re entering familiar territory with the first track; a violin-infused, symphonic intro ‘Walpurgis Eve’, which sounds like a fairly typical opener for a Cradle of Filth album. The next song that caught my attention is the enchanting Gothic horror delight that is Enshrined In Crematoria which reminds me of the band’s ‘Nymphetamine’ -era due to the similarities in the guitar patterns and the keyboard style. Dani’s vocals haven’t really changed much, he’s still combining the black metal shrieks with growling and the clearer, semi-growl vocal style.

Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasuring The Goddess is an abomination when it comes to genre and style. As a song it’s a cacophony of the following: symphonic “black metal”, Gothic metal keyboards and backing vocals, Marthus’s relentless pummeling drums along with the thrash metal style guitar riffage halfway through the track. Luckily it’s not long before the vocals and keyboards re-enter the fold as if to remind you of which band you’re listening to. The guitars, both the lead, rhythm and the bass, really come into the spotlight on ‘Blackest Magick In Practice; while the title track is a ferocious monster filled with rage and brutality. Yet there’s no doubt as to which track on here is my favourite – Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych is an absolute beauty of a song, featuring a delicate balance of classic Cradle Of Filth symphonic keyboard melodies, Dani’s shrieks, Marthus’s furiously fast drumming and some skillfully executed guitar work with Lindsay Schoolcraft’s Gothic backing vocals acting as the icing on the cake.

Overall this album reflects a modern Cradle of Filth style. As far as the music goes it’s like a mixture of ‘Nymphetamine’ and ‘Manticore’. So, if you stopped listening to them after ‘Midian’, then you will probably dislike this album. Personally I have mixed feelings about it. There’s a handful of great songs on here and several weaker ones that aren’t memorable in any way. While it’s not another masterpiece like ‘Dusk and Her Embrace’ but it’s not their worst album either.

Here’s the latest studio update from Cradle of Filth, new album ‘Hammer of The Witches’ will be released worldwide on 10th July this year via Nuclear Blast Records. It will be available in the following formats: standard jewelcase, Limited Edition Digipak, Mail Order Edition and 2LP vinyl.

Here is the tracklisting:

Jewelcase CD01. Walpurgis Eve02. Yours Immortally…03. Enshrined In Crematoria04. Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasuring The Goddess05. Blackest Magick In Practice06. The Monstrous Sabbat (Summoning The Coven)07. Hammer Of The Witches08. Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych09. The Vampyre At My Side10. Onward Christian Soldiers11. Blooding The Hounds Of Hell

Limited Edition Digipak CD01. Walpurgis Eve02. Yours Immortally…03. Enshrined In Crematoria04. Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasuring The Goddess05. Blackest Magick In Practice06. The Monstrous Sabbat (Summoning The Coven)07. Hammer Of The Witches08. Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych09. The Vampyre At My Side10. Onward Christian Soldiers11. Blooding The Hounds Of HellBonus Tracks:12. King Of The Woods13. Misericord

2LP vinyl (black) in gatefoldSide A01. Walpurgis Eve02. Yours Immortally…03. Enshrined In Crematoria04. Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasuring The GoddessSide B01. Blackest Magick In Practice02. The Monstrous Sabbat (Summoning The Coven)03. Hammer Of The WitchesSide C01. Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych02. The Vampyre At My Side03. Onward Christian Soldiers04. Blooding The Hounds Of HellSide D (Bonus Tracks)01. King Of The Woods02. Misericord

The British extreme Gothic metal band Cradle of Filth have recently unveiled the cover art for the new album ‘Hammer of The Witches’. Check it out here:

The cover was designed by the Latvian postmodernist artist Arthur Berzinsh. Here’s what the band’s frontman Dani Filth had to say about it:

“The artwork for »Hammer Of The Witches« was created by Latvian Artist Arthur Berzinsh and is a lavish walk-through of the lyricism, drawing on rich Renaissance themes and displaying them in beautiful yet unsettling scenarios. Half of the detailed pieces are totally original for the release, others are Berzinsh classics cunningly tailored to the themes of the album, which are themes rife with heady witchcraft, be it persecution, retribution or unfettered spiritual liberation. The female form is rampant throughout the artwork, unashamedly displayed in its classical rendition of beauty… and horror.”

The long-awaited follow up to ‘The Manticore and Other Horrors’ is due to hit the shops in July via Nuclear Blast.

British extreme gothic metallers Cradle of Filth have announced that their new album, the follow-up to ‘The Manticore and Other Horrors’, will be entitled ‘Hammer Of The Witches’. It will be a concept album inspired by by the 1486 treatise on the prosecution of witches by Heinrich Kramer and subtitled ‘Goetic Justice’. The latest from the band is that they are now at the mixing stage and the album is scheduled to come out in April 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

They are also working on a video for the new single ‘Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych’. The clip is being filmed at the former U.S. Military base of Bentwaters, Rendlesham Forest. Here’s some comments from Dani Filth:

“If the weekends activities were totally madcap and an experience never to forget, then today’s filming -involving a gorgeous girl tied in various limb contorting positions whilst demonic images were projected onto her lithe naked body- topped the lot. Plus I got to see a World War Two Spitfire fighter plane doing aerobatics over the field next to the photography studio too; both being things you just don’t see everyday!”